Man safely down from hospital roof

Police negotiators spent over seven hours trying to talk a man down from the roof of the Luton and Dunstable hospital on Monday, September 15.

He got onto the roof at lunchtime and was moving between the roofs of the Modular Ward and the Pre-assessment building, he was brought down safely at 8.15pm.

A spokesperson for Luton and Dunstable Hospital said: “Police, Fire and Rescue, and Ambulance Services attended an incident at Luton & Dunstable University Hospital where a young man, who is not known to the hospital, gained access to the roof areas and has caused some damage.

“Trained negotiators are working with the young man to talk him down safely from the roof.”

Patricia Caputo (@TriciaCaputo) said on Twitter: “Feel so sorry for man on #Luton&DunstableHospital roof. What is going through his mind?”

Lester O’Halloran said: “This man has been on the roof of the L&D hospital since 12pm.

“Police have been trying to get the man down but he keeps throwing roof tiles at them.”

Police had a helicoptor in the area for most of the afternoon and evening.

One resident, who lives in Lewsey Farm, said: “I feel sorry for the man on the roof but I cannot understand what a helicopter is going to do to help, it is just going to send everyone else crazy with its constant noise!”

A spokesperson for Bedfordshire police said: “At around 1pm a person was reported to have climbed onto the roof at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

“After protracted talk with police negotiators, the man was eventually talked down at around 8pm and was detained by officers under the Mental Health Act.”

A Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “We attended the Luton and Dunstable hospital at 1.15pm yesterday afternoon and were there to assist the police throughout the incident.